Nancy was in her room in River Heights. Raindrops drew trails down the window pane and fit well with Nancy's melancholy. She lay sprawled across her bed an open book across her chest. She turned her head to look at her end table. Several framed pictures were on it. One of her on horseback, Bess and George on either side. Another of her father sitting in a new office. A third of two brothers standing on a beach, affectionately known as the Hardy boys. And the last, a portrait of a handsome man with smiling blue eyes. She frowned and reached out to pick up the picture. It was a picture of Ned Nickerson, her boyfriend of seven years. He was only months away from graduating from college and then would be moving wherever his career took him. She knew he would expect her to go with him. Nancy felt anxiety rise out of her earlier depression. Only a month ago she had been in Iceland furiously trying to justify forgetting their anniversary. They had made up, or at least Ned had quelled his anger and disappointment. But she would never forget the chill she had felt when he had said he needed to talk with her about something important. The chill had had nothing to do with the swirling snow and had not left as she arrived state side. And even as the days passed Ned still had not said what it was he wanted to tell her on that night of their anniversary. She knew the day was coming when she would have to decide.

Replacing the picture she opened the end table's drawer pulling out a small photo album. It had the outline of New Zealand on the front with bright yellow letters spelling out, Pacific Run, on it. She paged through the pictures. Most were of her and, Bess and George. Finally she came to her favorite. She was standing next to a young man. He was kissing her cheek, his bright purple hair clashing with the strawberry blonde of her own. Her face was crinkled in a candid look of surprise and a healthy blush. She could almost here herself scolding the young man.

"Sonny Joon," she whispered. "Where have you gone?"

She reached back into the drawer taking out a comic. She traced her fingers over the childlike doodles. The Factually True Adventures of Sonny Joon and Cyborg Nancy. She flipped to the back, already having memorized the story she had found in the Misty Skip pub in Iceland. It was nothing but mindless drivel to anyone who did not know the man who had created it. A coded message in letters and drawings.

Nancy, I'm sorry I left you. I hope you can forgive me. I have been following my grandfather's clues and I may need your help again soon. Keep sleuthing. I'll find you when the time is right.

Sonny

Nancy let her eyes roam over the hidden letter. Sonny was going to need her again. She wanted to feel furious, but all she felt was longing and excitement. She shouldn't. Any day Ned was going to show up at her door, say he loved her, that he wanted to marry her and start their life together. But all she could think about was when Sonny Joon would come bursting back into her life.

It was just a kiss she told herself. It didn't mean anything. If only that were true. If only that picture had been their only kiss. If only he hadn't wrapped his arms around her and kissed her under those stars dancing on the cave ceiling. Whispered how long he had loved her. How she was the only one who could decipher not only his preposterous codes but his yearning desire to fulfill his grandfather's mission. They were so alike and yet different. Both driven but by opposite things. His was the wonder of all that couldn't be explained, hers was to seek answers until everything could be.

And then he was gone. She had found Sonny Joon and fallen for him in two weeks. It had taken her ten times as long to find him and a fraction of that to lose him. Sometimes she wondered if he had really existed at all. If that time in New Zealand was of her minds invention. But then the comics would turn up in the strangest places and her mind would go rushing back with such clarity. Her heart would flutter and her cheek would tingle where his lips had brushed it. It was then she would know it wasn't just in her mind. Sonny Joon was still out there.

But then there was Ned to think about. Could she cast him aside for a man she wasn't sure she would ever see again. Perhaps it was time to give up mysteries. Become a normal person. A wife. A mother.

The cell phone buzzed on her desk. Nancy stood quickly crossing the room to pick it up. She frowned. The number blinking insistently was restricted. She never answered these numbers, but she swiped her thumb across the screen and held the device to her ear.

"Hello," she said expectantly.

"Well, Nancy Drew it's been too long."

Nancy stood frozen one hand clamped around the phone the other over her mouth. She lowered it and said hoarsely.

"Sonny?"

"In the flesh...Well perhaps not but soon. I'm going to need help from my favorite detective."

Nancy was now gaping at the phone. She hadn't expected any better, but this casual bravado in the wake of her reminiscing was almost too much to bare.

"Hello. Nancy. Are you there?" came the faintly accented voice.

"Yes...Yes I'm still here," she stammered into the phone. Unsure whether she wanted to scream or cry.

"Oh good there's bad reception here," Sonny continued rapid fire. "Anyway I'm in Bulgaria currently. Annunaki sightings like you wouldn't believe, but I'm on my way to you tomorrow. Then we'll be off on to the next stage of ole Grandpa Jin's journey. I sent a package ahead so you can get started."

Nancy listened to Sonny chuckling still at a loss for words, but after a moment she found her tongue.

"Sonny, I don't know if I can go with you."

It was Nancy's turn to listen to the stunned silence.

"Look Nancy, I don't blame you for being sore," Sonny began his voice no longer chipper. "But I couldn't take you with me. I didn't even know for sure where it was I was going. But now I have a sure plan. I didn't want to leave you, Nanc. I swear I didn't. I haven't stopped thinking about you since New Zealand."

Nancy felt her heart leap with joy at his words. Then her eyes fell on the picture of Ned and her stomach clenched with guilt.

"Sonny, I don't think we had the chance to touch on this subject during all the chaos of Pacific Run, but I may have failed to mention I have a boyfriend."

"Oh I know about him," Sonny cut her off tone genial making her feel more confused then ever.

"But it's not serious right? I mean like you said you didn't mention him. I assumed you couldn't be too crazy about him."

Again Nancy's stomach strained with guilt.

"Well, actually Sonny, it's very serious."

A moment of silence passed and a nervous laugh came from Sonny's end.

"Not like marriage serious, right?"

Nancy didn't respond giving Sonny his answer.

"But you can't. I mean," he stuttered. "Do you love him?"

Nancy frowned.

"I've been with Ned for seven years, Sonny."

"But you don't love him, do you? At least you're not sure?"

Nancy could her the desperation in his voice.

"He's planning to propose, Sonny. Then move to Texas I think and I'd be going with him."

"Nancy, listen to me. Do you remember what I said to you in the caves?"

She closed her eyes as she felt the threat of tears welling.

"Yes," she whispered.

"I meant them, Nancy. Every last word. Listen don't do anything until I get there. Promise me."

"Sonny I...." Nancy protested.

"Promise me, you'll wait for me to come to you."

The line went dead. Nancy slumped on to the bed. She picked up the album still open to the picture of her and Sonny.

"I promise."

Nancy removed the photo and pressed it to her chest. She lay down staring at the ceiling. The rain still drizzling outside.

"I'll wait, Sonny, but just this once."

*****

Just as Sonny promised a package arrived. Nancy ran to the living room where George and Bess sat.

"Look you guys. A package from Sonny Joon."

She held up the small box emblazoned on its side the characteristic Sonny Wuz Here, with a small spaceship doodle next to it.

"Oh wow haven't heard anything about him in awhile," said George as Nancy reached for a box cutter. Nancy winced. She hadn't told them about the phone call. She didn't know what to say. She slit open the box while Bess cooed.

"Oh he was soooo cute. I still have that picture with him holding a puppy."

Nancy chuckled with George while Bess crossed her arms and replied with a huff.

"You know you thought he was cute too, Nancy."

Nancy shared a smirk with George.

"Oh you two," snapped Bess. "Anyway what did he send."

Nancy opened the box and began removing the strange contents. A even smaller metal box with no apparent opening, three exquisitely carved cherry wooden bowls and a worn dogeared notebook.

"What does the journal say, Nan?" asked George as she lifted the metal box, turning it in her hands.

Nancy flicked through the worn pages. They were crammed with drawings and codes. She studied a few different pages but besides recognizing her own name both written in and out of code, she couldn't read any of it.

"Hey, an envelope just fell out of it," said Bess as she inspected one of the wooden bowls.

Nancy retrieved the letter and opened it. On it was Sonny's familiar scrawl but it was even more frantic then usual as if he had been scared or excited.

Nancy,

I have sent you these items for safe keeping and my notes. At the bottom of this letter is the cipher to translate them. I've had to vary my code in case of interception, but I know you'll figure it out. The metal box is a puzzle. I am sure you'll show it to George. The bowls are for each of you girls. Good luck and don't solve to much without me.

Sonny J.

Nancy smirked she knew he had written this letter before calling her. He must be very close to locating whatever it was his grandfather had sent him to find. She studied the cipher at the bottom of the letter.

"Bess, will you grab some paper and write down the letters I tell you."

"Sure thing," said Bess as she scrambled for the items.

Nancy settled back comparing the letter and the notebook.

"Okay, G,S,I,N,E."